July 31, 2010 - Japan Tobacco Inc’s (JT) volume cigarette sales during the three months to the end of June, at 35.9 billion, were 7.9 per cent lower than those of the three months to the end of June last year.

Its market share, at 64.5 per cent, was down from 64.9 per cent, though the market share of its key brands ‒ Mild Seven, Pianissimo and Seven Stars ‒ was said to have held steady at 45.1 per cent.

Meanwhile, Japan Tobacco International’s (JT's international tobacco business) volume cigarette sales during the three months to the end of March, at 94.1 billion, were down by 6.8 per cent on those of the three months to the end of March last year, while sales of its Global Flagship Brands (GFB) were down by 4.4 per cent to 54.6 billion.

However, JT said that because of JTI’s well-balanced brand portfolio its market shares were continuing to grow in most key markets, including Russia, Italy, France and Turkey.

JT blamed its international business’ volume declines on the contraction of industry volumes in many markets and mentioned specifically the continuing unstable operating environment in Iran.

July 31, 2010 - On July 1, 2010, New York's cigarette excise tax increased to $4.35 per pack. As of August 1, 2010, "little cigars" were taxed at the same rate as cigarettes, the tax on moist snuff increased to $2.00 per ounce and the tax on other tobacco products increased to 75% of wholesale value (OTP - Other Tobacco Products). Localities may levy additional tobacco taxes, but these local taxes must be approved by the state legislature. Currently, only New York City imposes a local tax on cigarettes at $1.50 per pack. New York's state cigarette tax ranks highest among states and New York City's cigarette tax ranks highest in the nation among municipalities.

July 31, 2010 - New Hong Kong tobacco regulations state incoming passengers aged 18 years and older will be allowed to carry at most 19 cigarettes starting on August 1, 2010 according to a recent announcement by Hong Kong's Customs and Excise Department. According to the notice, those who violate the regulations will face a maximum fine of 1 million (128,754.82 USD) Hong Kong dollars and imprisonment for two years.

The department hopes that citizens and incoming passengers will cooperate with customs officers in implementing the measure.

A spokesperson for the Customs and Excise Department said on July 27 in order to step up tobacco control, encourage smoking cessation and to protect public health, the Dutiable Commodities (Exempted Quantities) (Amendment) Notice 2010 stipulates that an incoming passenger 18 years-old and above is entitled to bring only 19 cigarettes, one cigar, or no more than 25 grams of cigar or other manufactured tobacco into Hong Kong. The new regulations will take effect on Aug. 1, 2010.

The new law applies existing state tobacco taxes and regulations to new smokeless tobacco products, which have attracted young customers because they were low-cost.Specifically, the law:. Expands the definition of tobacco products to include any product that contains tobacco and is intended for human consumption.. Requires all tobacco products and tobacco-related devices to be sold behind the counter so they are not easily accessible to youth.. Prevents the sale of new tobacco products and e-cigarettes to youth.

Minnesota Assistant Commissioner of Health Patricia Adams: “Tobacco use continues to be the leading preventable cause of death in this country,” said Minnesota Assistant Commissioner of Health Patricia Adams.

While cigarette smoking among Minnesota youth has declined since 2000, there has been no change in the percentage of students smoking cigars or little cigars or using smokeless tobacco.

This new law will help young people avoid the harmful effects of tobacco by decreasing their access to today’s new generation of tobacco products.”

The best way to stamp out tobacco use is to protect kids from getting started in the first place.

July 30, 2010 - BUFFALO, N.Y. — Seneca Indians in the mail-order cigarette business can no longer use the post office to ship cigarettes while they fight to have a new law banning the practice struck down in court, a federal judge ruled Friday.

In a mixed decision, Judge Richard Arcara upheld the mail-order ban contained in the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (PACT) but temporarily exempted more than 140 Seneca-owned businesses from a provision requiring them to comply with all taxing laws in the places they sell cigarettes.

The order will remain in place while a lawsuit claiming the PACT Act is unconstitutional works its way through the court.

The ruling disappointed Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder, who said it would not protect tobacco employees from losing their jobs.

Some Seneca businesses shut down even before the law took effect June 29, saying without the post office they had no way to ship the thousands of cartons of discount cigarettes ordered by phone and Internet each day by smokers around the country. UPS and FedEx voluntarily stopped shipping cigarettes several years ago.

“The nation urges Seneca business people to continue their court battle — all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary — to allow mailing of legal tobacco products,” Snyder said.

Seneca-owned businesses are estimated to control 80 percent of the country’s mail-order cigarette market. Relying on tribal sovereignty, sellers do not collect state sales taxes, allowing them to sell cigarettes at prices far lower than nonnative competitors.

Native American sellers were offering cartons of Marlboros for $50.99 on Friday, compared with the $100 price tag in off-reservation convenience stores in New York, where the sales tax is $4.35 per pack.

Nonnative retailers are among PACT’s biggest supporters.

In his ruling, Arcara disagreed with claims by Seneca lawyers that the law violated the Constitution’s equal protection rights because it has a disproportionate effect on Native Americans. Congress knew leveling the playing field for nonnative retailers would hurt American Indian businesses, he wrote, “but took that action in spite of that fact, and not because of it.”

He also shot down challenges to the mail ban, saying Congress has the authority to prohibit tobacco shipments if it wants.“It was Congress’s judgment that use of the mails …. facilitates illegal cigarette trafficking and enhances the accessibility of cigarettes for minors,” Arcara said.

But the judge said the law’s unprecedented requirement that sellers follow the taxing schemes of the cities and states into which they ship could have far-reaching effects and deserved a closer look.

“If Congress possesses the authority to subject out-of-state retailers to every state and local taxing jurisdiction into which their products are delivered, then it has the authority to do so for all commercial products, not just cigarettes,” Arcara said.

Plaintiff Aaron Pierce, whose 10-year-old Seneca Smokeshop does business in 46 states from the Cattaraugus reservation, planned to find an alternate delivery method, his lawyer said without elaborating.

“We’re pleased to be remaining in business and we intend to do so,” attorney Michael Feeley said.

Arcara’s ruling came hours before an earlier temporary order blocking enforcement of the entire law was set to expire.

July 30, 2010 - Funding for anti-tobacco efforts is taking a hit as governments and philanthropies switch their preventive-health focus to fighting obesity, according to a Philanthropy story relayed on Tobacco China Online and quoting The New York Times.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the US' largest private grant maker for anti-smoking efforts, was said to have trimmed tobacco-related grants to $4 million last year while committing $58 million to the weight issue.

With Michelle Obama leading a campaign against childhood obesity, the White House steered $1.15 billion from the economic-stimulus and health-care overhaul bills toward the fight against fat, compared to $200 million for preventing tobacco use. States are also said to be cutting back on funds for anti-smoking programs, raising concerns among tobacco-control organizations.

The decline in state funding to prevent smoking has distressed advocates. The 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement between 46 states and cigarette companies provided more than $200 billion through 2025.

“The tobacco industry outspends us in a day what we spend in a year,” said David Dobbins, chief operating officer of American Legacy Foundation.And even as states were raising taxes on cigarettes to record levels — a proven way to deter smoking — they were shifting that revenue to general funds. Both tobacco industry analysts and anti-smoking groups say that states have become addicted to tobacco money but are using less of it for prevention efforts.

“Overall funding on tobacco control is down because of dramatic cuts in state spending in recent years,” Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in an interview. “In the last several years we’ve seen the rapid progress in both adult and youth smoking rates slow to a crawl largely because of a decline in overall spending at the state level on tobacco prevention and cessation.”

State funding for anti-tobacco programs dropped to $567 million last year, from $717 million two years earlier, a 21 percent cut, according to an advocacy groups’ report titled "A Broken Promise to Our Children.”

But Dr. Howard K. Koh, assistant secretary for health, focused on what he said was unprecedented funding from the federal government for both issues. “Rather than pitting one disease against another, we want to uphold comprehensive prevention policies,” he said in a phone interview. Dr. Koh said the administration was directing $722 million to tobacco control and research this year and $821 million to obesity control and research.

July 30, 2010 - According to information provided by the state Department of Health, there are more than 180 communities in New York that have passed resolutions banning tobacco use at parks and municipal grounds.

The City of Ithaca in Tompkins County, New York, as of August 1, 2010 no longer will smokers decide for themselves if they would honor a sign requesting them NOT to smoke. The new ordinance states that someone smoking in a smoke-free area can be asked by a police officer to move or put out the tobacco product. If the smoker refuses, a first-offense ticket is $75. A second offense is $150 and a third offense is $250.

The change actually won't help deter the motivated smoker outside the human services building -- it only applies 25 feet around city buildings and schools. But it will prevent smoking in a host of other locations, including bus shelters, playgrounds, small city parks, all natural areas and around mobile vending carts.

For particulars on the smoking regulations see the reference below.Including Ithaca there are four communities in Tompkins County that have passed resolutions banning tobacco use at parks and municipal grounds. The other three communities are the Village of Trumansburg, Town of Newfield and Town of Lansing. Trumansburg and Newfield both passed resolutions last year discouraging smoking in areas such as municipal headquarters and parks. Lansing passed its law forbidding smoking in the town hall campus, including around the library and community center and in the ball fields, in December 2009.

Surveys of Tompkins County residents, paid for by Tobacco-Free Tompkins, show strong support for restrictions on smoking. A 2008 survey found that 97.2 percent of county adults believe second-hand smoke is either "very harmful" or "somewhat harmful."

According to the survey, provided by Ted Schiele, the coordinator of Tobacco-Free Tompkins, 93.3 percent believe smoking should be banned or restricted to certain areas at public playgrounds, 85.4 percent believe the same about public parks, and 81.7 percent support smoking restrictions at public outdoor events.

July 30, 2010 - Tobacco smuggling has reached record levels in Ireland with more than 127 million illicit cigarettes seized so far this year, according to the country’s Revenue Commissioners. Last year, 200 million cigarettes were seized, but 120 million of those were taken during a single operation. The proportion of counterfeit cigarettes within the illicit-product seizures is also on the rise, jumping from about 50 percent last year to almost 80 percent so far this year. (The Office of the Revenue Commissioners is the primary state body responsible for the assessment and collection of taxes and duties in the Republic of Ireland)

The Office of the Revenue Commissioners yesterday, July 28th announced the results of a two-week crackdown on cigarette smuggling carried out this month. A confidential freephone number, 1800 295295, has also been introduced for members of the public to provide information about smuggling or the sale of illegal cigarettes.

Revenue Commissioner Liam Irwin warned people who bought cigarettes on the black market that they were putting money into the hands of criminals.

“Anyone tempted to buy cheap cigarettes from an irregular source of supply must realise that there is a high possibility that they are buying counterfeit goods, which provide an unknown additional set of health risks, as the product is not the subject of quality control,” he added. “These actions are not just robbing the exchequer of much needed funds, they are also hurting local businesses.”

Airports, freight terminals, markets, postal services and white van operators were all targeted during the blitz, which resulted in the seizure of cigarettes and tobacco worth almost €6 (7.8 USD) million. The action resulted in four arrests, and 73 prosecutions are pending, Revenue said in a briefing yesterday.

Some 1.3 million of the cigarettes were seized from passengers alighting from aircraft; most of these were smuggled from the Canary Islands, Poland and China, according to Tom Talbot, head of the Customs criminal investigation branch. More than half the 343,000 cigarettes seized in the post were imported from China. The largest seizure in the blitz was made near Ratoath, Co Meath, where over 10 million cigarettes were found in a trailer that came through Dublin Port, having arrived from Malaysia. The brand involved, Bolton, had never been seen before in Ireland.Mr Irwin said there was no evidence that drug gangs or subversives had targeted tobacco smuggling, but individual criminals had switched to the trade because it was high-value and the consequences were less serious than for drug smuggling. Penalties for cigarette smuggling increased last year and Mr Irwin said he was satisfied the courts were taking the crime more seriously than before.

July 30, 2010 - Taxi drivers may be fined up to 1.2 million won ($1,000) when caught smoking in their cars. Seoul City is to announce next month a new ordinance banning taxi drivers from smoking in their cars, said officials Wednesday, July 28th. “An increasing number of citizens have been filing complaints about smoking taxi or bus drivers,” said a city official. “We have decided to take extreme measures to put an end to the inconvenience.”

When caught smoking while driving, taxi drivers, together with taxi companies, are to pay the maximum fine of 1.2 million won ($1,000). The city may go as far as suspending the license of those who refuse to pay the fine or delay the payment, said officials.

In November last year, Seoul City designated all taxis operating in the city a “smoking free zone.” But it turned out to be a vain attempt because drivers and passengers continue to smoke as there are no punitive measures against it.

Also, the revised health law is to take effect on August 28 to impose a maximum fine of 100,000 won (84.45 USD) for those caught smoking in nonsmoking areas.

In a survey conducted last month by Seoul City on 1,113 citizens, 90.1 percent of the respondents answered that nonsmoking zones should be expanded. Also, 87 percent said that a fine of 50,000 won or more should be imposed on those who break the nonsmoking rule in such zones. (Outdoor smoking ban likely to be extended by Bae Ji-sookStaff reporter, The Korea Times, 7/18/2010)References: Smoking taxi drivers face fines by Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldm.com), Korea Herald, 7/28/2010; Smoking taxi drivers face W1.2 million fine by Lee Hyo-sik, staff reporter, The Korea Times, 7/28/2010.

July 29, 2010 - Greece is gearing up for a blanket ban on smoking in public places by enlisting the help of Harvard University, with which it signed an agreement yesterday to provide help developing the government’s anti-tobacco policies and mounting publicity campaigns.

The Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) will also help Greece conduct research, organize conferences and train all the officials who will be involved in imposing the ban as well as developing strategies to foster an anti-smoking culture, particularly among children. The smoking ban, which will prevent Greeks from lighting up in bars, cafes and restaurants, will come into effect on September 1.

Julio Frenk, the dean of the HSPH, which has some 300 teaching staff and 950 students, signed the memorandum of cooperation along with the Health Ministry’s general secretary, Antonis Dimopoulos, and the president of the Hellenic Cancer Society, Stavros Besbeas.Reference: Harvard to help in smoking ban, Ekathimerini.com, 7/27/2010.

July 28, 2010 - Philip Morris USA today, July 27th filed lawsuits in federal court against eight retailers for allegedly selling counterfeit versions of Marlboro cigarettes in the New York City area.

These lawsuits are the latest in a series of filings by PM USA aimed at combating the sale of counterfeit cigarettes in New York. Since May 2009, the company has filed lawsuits against 47 retailers in New York for selling counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes.

These lawsuits are part of the company’s on-going efforts to stop the sale of counterfeit cigarettes and the unauthorized use of PM USA’s trademarks.

"The New York metropolitan area is the most lucrative market in the US for counterfeit and contraband cigarette smugglers," said Joe Murillo, vice president and associate general counsel, Altria Client Services, speaking on behalf of PM USA. "The highest cigarette excise taxes in the nation – $6.86 per pack in federal, state and city taxes – fuel this illicit trade, making New York the largest market for counterfeit and contraband cigarettes in the country.

“New York State's lack of effective enforcement on cigarettes sold to Native American retailers makes the already significant problems in the New York area worse," added Murillo.In a related case, PM USA said it had sued Tammy's Smoke Shop, a smoke shop on the Poospatuck Indian Reservation on Long Island, in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York. And on July 19, it said, the judge in that case had determined that PM USA was entitled to $100,000 statutory damages for trademark infringement based on the sale of counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes.

The judge noted in the decision that “the record indicates there are numerous other cigarette sellers in defendants’ vicinity on the Poospatuck Indian Reservation (PM USA has filed actions against other smoke shops on the reservation for alleged sale of counterfeit Marlboro® brand cigarettes), [and] there appears to be a real need to deter others from such insidious conduct.”

In addition to violating trademark laws, counterfeit cigarettes are almost always sold without the appropriate federal and state excise tax. The counterfeit cigarettes purchased from the retailers named in today’s suits bore no tax stamp or a counterfeit tax stamp. As a result, the applicable excise taxes were not paid.

See reference for list of retailers in which lawsuits were were filed against in federal court.

Reference: a href="http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100727007079&newsLang=en">Philip Morris USA Sues Retailers Across New York City to Combat Counterfeit Cigarette Sales, Philip Morris USA, 7/27/2010.

July 28, 2010 - Uruguay has promised to water down anti-smoking laws after pressure from the tobacco giant Philip Morris, prompting accusations of corporate bullying.The government said it would amend legislation which slaps large health warnings on cigarette packets and bans the sale of those branded as "light". The government has said that any changes would be minor. Possible reforms might include reducing the size of health warnings from the current 80 percent of the packet's size to 65 percent, and giving permission to sell "light" cigarettes.

The anti-tobacco laws, among the toughest in the world, were introduced four years ago by the then president, Tabaré Vázquez, who as an oncologist had seen the ravages of smoking-related cancer. Tobacco advertising and smoking in public buildings were also banned. Vázquez received an award from the World Health Organisation in 2006 for making the South American country, which has a population of 3.5 million, a leader in the fight against tobacco.

Earlier this year Philip Morris, which sells Marlboro and other brands in more than 160 countries, filed for arbitration at the World Bank's international centre for settlement of investment disputes (ICSID), claiming the restrictions hurt its business and violated Uruguay's trade deal with Switzerland. The corporation is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. (FTR Holding S.A. (Switzerland), Philip Morris Products S.A. (Switzerland) and Abal Hermanos S.A. (Uruguay) v. Oriental Republic of Uruguay (ICSID Case No. ARB/10/7, Date Registered 3/26/2010)Uruguay: Philip Morris files first-known investment treaty claim against tobacco regulations by Luke Eric Peterson, 3/3/2010)Uruguay's government yesterday said it would tweak the legislation, or possibly draft a new law, to fend off the complaint and comply with international trade obligations. "On some arguments, Uruguay is very strong from a legal point of view and changes aren't necessary. On other points, we need to make changes to the law or come up with a new law," the foreign affairs minister, Luis Almagro, said.

However, Vázquez, a leftist who completed his five-year term in March, accused the tobacco giant of "blackmailing" pressure. "The only thing that Philip Morris is trying to do is show its power over a small country that has set an international example on this issue," he said.

Eduardo Bianco, head of anti-smoking group the Centre for Investigation of the Tobacco Epidemic, said: "If the country gives way to this pressure, maybe this or some other multinational will try to use another [international] accord to challenge our ban on smoking in enclosed spaces or the advertising ban."

Philip Morris, which also makes L&M, Chesterfield and Virginia Slims, holds an estimated 15% of the international cigarette market outside of the US.

References: Uruguay bows to pressure over anti-smoking law amendmentsTobacco giant Philip Morris accused of corporate bullying following government's decision to water down legislation, Rory Carroll, Guardian.co.uk, 7/27/2010; Uruguay may change anti-smoking law due to complaint by Conrado Hornos, Reuters, 7/27/2010.

July 27, 2010 - Alma DDB has been selected through a competitive procurement, as the advertising agency of record for Tobacco Free Florida, a $20 million account managed by the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Prevention Program.

July 27, 2010 - The number of cigarette butts dumped onto Seoul streets hit a record low in the first half of the year. Up until June of this year, 80,161 cases of cigarette butt disposal were detected in Seoul’s 25 districts, according to Seoul City officials Monday, July 26th.

The total amount of fines imposed was 3.29 billion won ($2.7 million), the lowest since the city started the fine system back in 2007. Under the present law, illicit cigarette dumping is subject to a fine of 30,000 (25.39 USD) - 50,000 won (42.30 USD).The half-yearly figures reached the highest in the second half of 2007 ― 201,247 cases and 8.5 billion won.

Since then, illicit cigarette disposal has remained in the 100,000-150,000 range ― 106,573 in the first half of 2008 and 117,788 in the same period of 2009. The sum total of the imposed fines was around 5 billion won.

Gangnam-gu (gu=district), which first started the fine system back in 2007, detected the most cigarette littering, with 19,426 cases and 1.02 billion won in fines (30.4 percent of the total amount), said officials. Jongno-gu and Jung-gu followed with 420 million won and 355 million won, respectively.

Drivers also tend to throw fewer cigarettes out of their windows while driving.

The number of cigarettes dumped by drivers in 13 major districts fell from 6,547 in the second half of 2008 to 2,696 in the first half of this year, said officials.The city plans to increase by the end of the year the number of disposable ashtrays in the streets from the present 50,000 to 75,000, they said.

Starting in September 2010, those who spit chewing gum onto the Seoul streets will face a fine of between 30,000 won ($24) and 50,000 won - varies according to district. (Gum spitters face fines, Korean Herald, 6/14/2010.)

Prior to Indonesia agreeing, the United States and Indonesia, which are both large manufacturers and consumers of tobacco products, remained the two most populous nations that have not ratified the treaty. (Time for USA to be part of the world community..)

Now pictures of similar smoking babies in other countries are also appearing on the Internet, and activists in these nations may use their similar shock value to pressure their own countries to likewise ratify the treaty or to take other effective action to protect children, says public interest law professor John Banzhaf, Executive Director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), who is trying to kick start the movement.

The Chairman of Indonesia's National Commission For Child Protection said that inaction in permitting such abuses to occur would not only be a violation of the children's human rights, but also tantamount to genocide.

July 27, 2010 - Telecom company Zain Jordan collaborated with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals to organize an awareness lecture on smoking, its adverse health effects and the methods for quitting the habit. The lecture was held on Thursday, July 15 2010 at Zain's headquarters in 8th Circle. The lecture is part of the care and various benefits offered by Zain to its employees.

The lecture, which was given by pulmonary specialist Dr. Yousef Nawas and attended by a number of Zain employees, covered substantial background on the issue, including the history of tobacco, in addition to the benefits and methods of quitting smoking. The lecture was followed by a question and answer session which revealed the direct and indirect correlation between cigarette smoking and many of the ailments plaguing our society today.

"Working people are perhaps the prime target of our awareness and anti-smoking campaigns," commented Dr. Sleiman Edeili, Sales Manager at Pfizer Jordan. "The fast-paced, stressful lifestyles mandated by today's work environments make them more prone to addiction, particularly in our culture where the practice is main stream. We are here to inform them that science is continually providing advanced solutions to help them overcome their tobacco addiction."Pfizer has a longstanding track record in delivering advanced solutions to help smokers overcome their addiction, such as Champix® – the first nicotine-free smoking cessation aid that works to minimize tobacco cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

July 27, 2010 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Margaret Hamburg made headlines last week when she told an FDA tobacco products scientific advisory committee (TPSAC) panel to "follow the science wherever it leads and the rest will fall into place." With Hamburg's words on the screen beside him, a Lorillard Tobacco Co. scientist on Friday called upon the FDA's TPSAC to employ a "truly science-based, data-driven" process in its evaluation of menthol in cigarettes.

TPSAC held meetings on July 15 and July 16. It heard industry presentations on how menthol is used in cigarettes, health effects, marketing efforts and impacts on specific groups of people.

FDA CTP Scientific Advisory Committee Meeting outcome - committee wants more industry data on menthol..Lorillard representatives keep on stating that, "TPSAC should ground its principles and analysis in sound science...An objective analysis of the science surrounding menthol shows that menthol does not increase the health risks of cigarette smoking and that menthol cigarettes do not play a unique role in starting smoking, stopping smoking or in smoking dependence. The evidence is pretty strong that menthol cigarettes do play a role in starting smoking and trying to stop smoking. Menthols are now as high as 35 percent of cigarette sales in the U.S.A. and growing.

Following the FDA advisory meeting, Credit Suisse said last week that Lorillard is not as weak as it thought. "It appears that the FDA will create a report sub-committee to draft the final recommendation before a full committee vote on it but we do not know yet, if the draft will be developed publicly. Independent of the recommendation we still do not believe that the FDA would ultimately ban menthol," the brokerage said. The final menthol recommendation is expected in March 2011.

July 26, 2010 - More than 1.2 million signatures have been collected during a one-month campaign entitled “Non-smoke house” in Vietnam. (Vietnam population 86,210,781 - 2008 Source: World Bank)

Nguyen Tuan Lam, National Professional Officer of WHO Vietnam’s Tobacco Free Initiative: “Nearly half of Vietnamese men smoke and the rate is even higher, at 65 percent, among men between 25-45 years old. Around 40,000 people in Vietnam die every year to tobacco-related diseases and the low price of cigarettes and water-pipe was among the causes of the high smoking rate among men."

The 1.2 million figure was released by the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) Central Committee and the Office of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Vietnam at a meeting to sum up the campaign in Hanoi on July 22.

The “Non-smoke house” campaign, which was launched on May 31, was part of activities in response to the World No Tobacco Day themed “Tobacco and Gender”, focusing on the harmful effects of smoking on women and children.

Together with signature collection, the VWU Central Committee trained its staff and officers in 30 provinces and cities on the harmful effects of smoking, the smoking situation in Vietnam and the benefits of a non-smoking environment.

Over 820,000 women were provided with information on the damaging effects of cigarette smoke and passive smoking through activities of the grassroots women associations.

July 26, 2010 - U.S. Newport, Lorillard's flagship menthol-flavored premium cigarette brand, is the top selling menthol and second largest selling cigarette in the U.S. In addition to Newport, the Lorillard product line has five additional brand families marketed under the Kent, True, Maverick, Old Gold and Max brand names. These six brands include 41 different product offerings which vary in price, taste, flavor, length and packaging.

Net sales were $1.520 billion for the second quarter of 2010, compared to $1.519 billion for the second quarter of 2009. Gross profit for the quarter was $542 million, lower than $552 million in the year-ago quarter, and gross margins contracted 120 basis points to 52.2% from a year ago's 53.4%, reflecting higher costs related to federal regulations.

Lorillard's second quarter domestic wholesale shipments decreased 0.6% compared to the same period in 2009 versus a 7.1% decline in total domestic wholesale industry shipments. Lorillard's domestic wholesale shipments increased 5.3% in the first six months of 2010 compared to 2009, while total domestic wholesale industry shipments declined 4.9%. Lorillard's domestic retail market share increased by 1.0 share points over the year ago period to 12.8%.

Newport domestic retail market share increased by 0.5 share points over the year ago period to 10.9% from 10.4% in the second quarter of 2009.

Maverick - At the retail level, based on our (Lorillard) data, Newport achieved a 10.93% share in the first six months of this year, an increase of 0.66 points over the same period in 2009. Maverick grew 0.44 points for the same periods of comparison, achieving a 1.44% retail share of market.Question: you think about Newport’s share performance in the first half of the year, just in light of continued intense competitive activity, whether it’s from Marlboro menthol or Camel, how would you assess the Newport’s performance and really just kind of looking at the share and profitability balance that you’ve been able to achieve?

Martin Orlowsky, CEO, President, board chairman:Well frankly, we haven’t really witnessed any significant shifts in terms of the competitive framework so far through the year. I would not necessarily, I can’t anticipate at this stage of the game whether there’s going to be any radical or significant change occurring. So assuming all things remain as they’ve pretty much been, the Newport brand should continue to perform competitively, as it has.

Question:Could you provide us with an update on where the MST (moist snuff tobacco) development stands?Martin OrlowskyWe’re still continuing on a path of having, of being in a position to compete in that category. I don’t have anything specific to add at this point, but we still continue to have the interest.

Question: And any timeline when you want to have a product on the market?Martin OrlowskyIn a reasonable time in the near future.

July 26, 2010 - The head of the Health Ministry's planning and evaluation department revealed this week that only 20.9 percent of Israeli adults smoke - significantly lower than the 22.8% figure provided by Deputy Health Minister Ya'acov Litzman during his annual Smoking Report to the media on June 1, The Jerusalem Post has learned. In June 2010 we reported, on numbers from the deputy health minister that showed that 22.8% of Israel’s adult population currently smoked, compared to 24.2% the previous year. (Israel - slight decline in the number of Israelis who smoke..)

The lower figure - for 2009 - was supplied by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) on the basis of a study of 30,000 adults aged 20 and older in over 9,000 Israeli households. It was quoted by Anat Shemesh of the ministry at a meeting of the Israel Council for the Prevention of Smoking on July 15.

Until now, the ministry - including Litzman - has been quoting its 2008 survey results, which were collected by its own Center for Disease Control (CDC) and which showed a relatively small decline from the previous CDC survey figure. The CDC survey is based a sample about one-tenth the size of the CBS study's, and comes out every two years, while the CBS survey is held once in 10 years.

Prof. Tammy Shohat, head of the CDC, said it did not present the CBS figures at Litzman's press conference because they were "still preliminary" at the time.

Council chairman Amos Hausner, a long-time smoking- prevention lawyer, told the Post on Monday that if the smoking figures go as low as they are in the US, Israel should commit itself to observing the Bangkok Protocol of 2007, to which Israel is a signatory. The protocol calls for the elimination of smoking rooms.

"This survey sample is very large, and valid," said Hausner. He credited the "steep decline" in smoking to the 2009 increase in tobacco tax (which has increased further by NIS 2 per pack just recently) and the ongoing effect of the Erdan Law that set higher fines and made proprietors of public establishments responsible for enforcing no-smoking laws."Today people do not smoke in most public places, and there is an increased interest in smoking cessation among the general public, as proven by the high demand for smoking cessation medications and courses [which are] now free in the heath basket," he said.

Hausner noted that if only one-fifth of the population smokes, there is no need for smoking rooms in public buildings; any remaining smokers can go outdoors. In California, Massachusetts and New York, where the smoking rates are between 14% and 18%, as well as in Australia, smoking rooms are illegal. In addition, part of tobacco taxes in California and Australia are dedicated to smoking prevention education and media activities.

According to the CBS statistics, the smoking rate for those between the ages of 20 and 24 is 20%; for those aged 25 to 34 it's 22.5%; for ages 35 to 44 it's 24.2%; between 45 and 54 it's 26.7% ; from 55 to 64 the rate is 19.5% ; from 65 to 74 it's 13.4%; and only 5.2% at 75 and over. The average across all age groups is 20.9%.

Image from Bulgarian Customs.. July 26, 2010 - The Bulgarian customs authorities reported Friday that they detained a smuggling shipment of 6 tons of tobacco headed for Romania in Bulgarian Danube city of Russe.

The 6-ton tobacco shipment was discovered in a Bulgarian truck registered to transport paper and cardboard to Romania and had no relevant documents. Customs estimate that an excise tax of more than BGN 0.5 M (331,856.98 USD) is due on the tobacco.In other news, the Customs Agency announced it had stopped 120 l (liter) of illegal alcohol from crossing the Bulgarian-Romanian border at Russe. Alcohol smuggling is on the other hand regularly effected in small installments by Bulgarian locals, mainly older people, who are carrying a few liters of alcohol each. The liquid is stored in 2 l and 5 l plastic bottles with no designation of contents and producers. People are carrying the alcohol to Romanian town of Gyurgevo across the Danube river, where they can profitably sell it.

Large fines are prescribed for failing to register goods and paying their excise tax.